Increasing Productivity in Pesticide Residue Analysis Using JetClean with GC/MS and StreamSelect with LC/MS Systems

Importance of the Topic

Driven by the need to ensure food safety and regulatory compliance, rapid and reliable pesticide residue analysis is critical in modern food laboratories. Minimizing instrument downtime and maximizing sample throughput enhance laboratory efficiency and support timely decision-making.

Objectives and Study Overview

This study evaluates two automation strategies aimed at improving productivity in pesticide residue analysis: the JetClean self-cleaning ion source for GC/MS systems and the StreamSelect dual-stream configuration for LC/MS systems. The performance gains, operational reliability, and analytical quality achieved by each approach are compared to standard workflows.

Methodology and Instrumentation

• The JetClean module was integrated into Agilent 7890 gas chromatographs coupled to 7000D and 7010 triple quadrupole mass spectrometers.
• The StreamSelect setup paired two Agilent 1290 Infinity II LC systems with a single Agilent 6490 triple quadrupole LC/MS detector.

Main Results and Discussion

• JetClean prevented source contamination by delivering controlled hydrogen flows, extending manual cleaning intervals from 200–300 runs to 600–900 runs. Calibration linearity (R2=0.9997) and precision (RSD 3.3 % at 10 ppb) were maintained, with average accuracy of 109 % and over 90 % of analytes within the 90–125 % recovery range in spinach matrices.
• Visual inspection of ion source lenses confirmed that JetClean kept the surfaces free of deposits compared to standard systems, supporting consistent instrument performance.
• StreamSelect reduced MS idle time by overlapping column re-equilibration and sample loading. Sample throughput increased by 35 %, from four to nearly six samples per hour, with a 15-minute total cycle time and 9-minute MS acquisition window.
• The LC/MS method achieved a limit of quantitation of 0.01 mg/kg for most pesticide–matrix combinations and produced sharp, well-resolved peaks for early-eluting compounds using online dilution.

Benefits and Practical Applications

• Significantly lowered maintenance requirements and operator intervention for GC/MS systems.
• Increased instrument uptime and reduced laboratory costs related to manual cleaning.
• Enhanced LC/MS productivity supporting high-throughput screening of over 400 pesticides in diverse food matrices.
• Streamlined sample processing by eliminating offline dilution steps while preserving analytical sensitivity and robustness.

Future Trends and Potential Applications

Anticipated developments include integration of self-cleaning ion sources and dual-stream interfaces with advanced predictive maintenance software. These innovations could further drive automation in regulated environments, enable real-time quality control, and expand multi-residue screening capabilities to meet evolving food safety standards.

Conclusion

Automation technologies such as JetClean and StreamSelect demonstrably enhance GC/MS and LC/MS workflows by reducing downtime, maintaining analytical performance, and boosting sample throughput. Adoption of these solutions supports efficient, reliable pesticide residue testing in high-volume food safety laboratories.

Reference

Analytical Methods for Residual Compositional Substances, Department of Food Safety, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Japan, 2006; Guidance Document on Analytical Quality Control and Method Validation Procedures for Pesticide Residue Analysis in Food and Feed, SANTE/11945/2015; Improved LC/MS/MS Pesticide Multiresidue Analysis Using Triggered MRM and Online Dilution, Agilent Application Note 5991-7193EN, 2017